System and method for providing loyalty-based virtual objects across various media including gaming devices

Abstract

Gaming systems and methods are set forth designed to promote user loyalty with an enterprise. The user obtains a virtual object such as a virtual dog and earns the ability to acquire accessories or upgrades for their virtual dog through interaction with the enterprise. Certain accessories or upgrades may only be acquired or restored at a physical, brick and mortar venue for the enterprise to encourage the user to visit the venue. Acquisition of attributes such as accessories and upgrades may provide a basis for tournaments and prizes. The virtual object may be accessed and displayed at terminals at the venue or at remote devices. Acquisition of virtual objects may be used to qualify the user for a feature such as a progressive jackpot game.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for an enterprise to provide a graphical package to one or more user devices, each user device including a video display and user interface, and where the system includes one or more servers and at least one user data file storing data in a file associated with each user, the system comprising:
 a communication network to provide communication between the one or more user devices and the one or more servers; 
 the one or more servers storing data corresponding to graphics packages, each graphics package including a set of one or more virtual objects, wherein the one or more servers are configured to (i) receive, from a user interface of a first user device associated with a first user, input to identify the first user for access of a first user data file of the at least one user data file associated with the first user, (ii) receive data corresponding to commercial or non-commercial interaction associated with the first user and with the enterprise, (iii) from that interaction, award the first user with digital currency corresponding to actual or virtual value, the first user data file configured to store data associated with a balance of digital currency awarded to the first user, and (iv) in response to the first user redeeming at least a portion of the balance of digital currency, allocate data to relate one or more of the virtual objects to the first user data file; and 
 the one or more servers configured to provide data corresponding to the allocated data from the first user data file to the first user device, wherein the first user device is configured to display in response to the provided data, a graphics package from the one or more servers and associated with one or more of the related virtual objects. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  comprising the one or more servers configured to receive data corresponding to commercial activity of at least one or more of purchasing goods and services. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1  comprising the set of virtual object includes a graphical representation of enterprise services. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3  comprising the one or more servers configured to notify the first user of eligibility for an event upon the allocation of data representing of the set of virtual objects of the graphics packages displayed by the first user device. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1  wherein the first user device is a wireless device communicatively coupled to the communication network for wireless communication. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1  comprising a network cloud representing the one or more servers. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1  wherein the enterprise is a casino venue, and interaction with the enterprise includes play of at least one casino wagering game. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1  wherein the user devices includes one or more transaction terminals, each transaction terminal including a user terminal interface and a video display, wherein the one or more servers are configured to (i) communicate through the network with the one or more transaction terminals and (ii) provide, in response to receiving input from the user terminal interface of a first transaction terminal to identify a user for access of the user data file of the user, data to the terminal video display of the first transaction terminal for display to the user a graphics package associated with one or more of the allocated virtual objects. 
     
     
       9. A method for an enterprise to provide a graphical package to one or more user devices, each user device including a video display and user interface, and where the system includes one or more servers and at least one user data file storing data in a file associated with each user, the method comprising:
 providing for communication between the one or more user devices and the one or more servers; 
 storing, at the one or more servers, data corresponding to graphics packages, each graphics package including a set of one or more virtual objects; 
 configuring the one or more servers for (i) receiving, from a user device interface of a first user device associated with a first user, input to identify the first user for access a first data file of the at least one user date file associated with the first user, (ii) receiving data corresponding to commercial or non-commercial interaction between the user and the enterprise, (iii) from that interaction, awarding the first user with digital currency corresponding to actual or virtual value, the first user data file configured to store data associated with a balance of digital currency awarded to the first user, and (iv) in response to the first user redeeming at least a portion of the balance of digital currency, allocating data to relate one or more of the virtual objects to the first user data file; and 
 the one or more servers providing data corresponding to the allocated data from the first user data file to the first user device wherein the first user device displays, via the video display of the first user device, a graphics package from the one or more servers and associated with one or more of the related virtual objects. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  comprising configuring the one or more servers for notifying the first user of eligibility for an event responsive at least in part to the allocation of data representing of the set of virtual objects. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  comprising configuring the one or more servers for notifying the first user of eligibility for an event responsive at least in part to the allocation of data representing of the entire set of virtual objects. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9  wherein the enterprise is a gaming enterprise including a player tracking server configured for attributing loyalty value to a player's loyalty account based upon gaming activities, the method comprising configuring the one or more servers to interact with the player tracking server for enabling the first user to exchange loyalty value from their loyalty account for allocating data to relate one or more of the virtual objects to the user's data file. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9  comprising providing for communication between user devices located remotely from the enterprise and the one or more servers. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9  comprising providing for communication between wireless user devices and the one or more servers. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9  wherein the enterprise provides goods and services including gaming services comprising configuring the one or more servers for receiving data corresponding to the purchase of goods and serves and allocating data to relate one or more of the virtual objects to the first user data file. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  comprising configuring the one or more servers for notifying the first user of eligibility for an event responsive at least in part to the allocation of data representing of the set of virtual objects, the event selected from a group consisting of a tournament, prize or service. 
     
     
       17. A system for an enterprise to provide a graphical package of allocated virtual objects to one or more user devices, each user device including a video display and user interface and the graphical package including a set of one or more virtual objects, and where the system includes one or more servers and at least one user data file storing data in a file associated with each user, the system comprising:
 a communication network to provide communication between the one or more user devices and the one or more servers; 
 the one or more servers configured to (i) receive, from a user interface of a first user device associated with a first user, input to identify the first user for access of a first data file of the at least one data file associated with the first user, (ii) access a data file storing graphics data for each virtual object of the set of virtual objects of the graphical package, (iii) receive data corresponding to commercial or non-commercial interaction associated with the first user and with the enterprise, (iv) from that interaction, award the first user with digital currency corresponding to actual or virtual value, the first user data file configured to store data associated with a balance of digital currency awarded to the first user, and (v) in response to the first user redeeming at least a portion of the balance of digital currency, allocate graphics data to relate one or more of the virtual objects to the first user data file; and 
 the one or more servers configured to provide graphics data corresponding to the related one or more virtual objects from the first user data file to the first user device to cause the first user device to display the graphics package associated with one or more of the related virtual objects. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17  wherein the enterprise provides goods and services including gaming services comprising configuring the one or more servers for receiving data corresponding to the purchase of goods and serves and allocating data to relate one or more of the virtual objects to the first user data file. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 17  wherein the one or more user devices include one or more terminals associated with the enterprise and in communication with the one or more servers over the communication network, wherein a first terminal of the one or more terminals is at least temporarily associated with a user in response to input received by the first terminal that identifies the user for access of the user data file of the user.